North America’s largest wildlife overpass is now open for animals to safely cross Interstate 25 in southern Douglas County, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

The $15 million Greenland Wildlife Overpass is designed to connect wildlife habitats to both sides of I-25, preserve open space and provide safe passage for a variety of species – namely big game species like elk and pronghorn.

The overpass, located at mile point 165.4 between Larkspur and Monument, is strategically placed in a wildlife corridor that connects 39,000 acres of habitat on both sides. The area is known to experience a high movement of large game. 

The bridge structure measures 200 feet wide and 209 feet long, covers 41,800 square feet and crosses six lanes of traffic on I-25. CDOT officials said this makes the wildlife overpass North America’s largest of its type.

A number of species will have access to the overpass. That includes elk, pronghorn, mule deer, black bears, mountain lions and more.

Prior to the wildlife overpass, CDOT officials said there was an average of one wildlife-vehicle crash a day in the area during fall and spring wildlife movement seasons. More than 100,000 vehicles pass through the area daily, according to CDOT.

The Douglas County portion of I-25 serves motorists traveling between Denver and Colorado Springs.

“Colorado is leading the way in reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions, and improving safety for both our motorists and wildlife,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement on the Greenland Wildlife Overpass, a project he called a “momentous feat.”

Early in December, CDOT completed construction of the overpass less than a year ahead of schedule. Construction ended with covering the overpass surface with dirt and vegetation.

“The overpass is an essential component of the wildlife crossing system in this area, which is expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes by 90%,” CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said in a statement.

The Greenland Wildlife Overpass was built in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Douglas Land Conservancy, Colorado Cattleman’s Agricultural Land Trust and Douglas County.

The $15 million project was largely funded by a federal grant award.

“We take great pride in being responsible stewards of our resources – including our natural spaces and wildlife,” Douglas County Commissioner George Teal said.

The project took more than nine years of planning and construction, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Area Wildlife Manager Matt Martinez.

“We look forward to deer, elk, bears, mountain lions and many other species safely crossing I-25, once a major barrier to migration and wildlife movements,” Martinez said in a statement.